Oil-cup.



UNTTED STATES PATENT nrc.

WILLIAM L. MORRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

OIL-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 8, 1909.

Application led July 6, 1905. Serial No. 268,407.

mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to improvements in.

oil-cups, the object being to provide a feeding device for such a cup that will permit the.

feeding of oil from the body of the cup or from an independent outside supply at the option of the user.

A further object is to make possible. the ready adjustment of such feeding device to feed different amounts of oil or to stop such feed altogether.

To the accomplishment of these ends my invention consists of the combination, arrangement and structure of the various parts hereinafter described and fully set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawin and the following description set forth in etail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of the. various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. In said annexed drawing, one form of my improved oilcup is shown in central vertical cross-section.

The body proper of the cu consists of a cylindrical section A, prefera ly of' glass, a

top member B, and a bottom member C.'

Such top member B is provided with an u wardly-projecting flan e b which forms t e opening to the cup, an with a downwardlyprojecting peripheral flange b which is designed to inclose the upper end of cylinder A. Top member B is further rovided with a spider B2, the center of wh1ch comprises an internally threaded hub B3 closed at the top by a cap b2. Bottom member C is similarly provided With a peripheral llange c which projects upwardly so as to inclose the lower end of cylinder A. Bottommember C is further provided with an axially disposed, upwardlyextending, hollow post C', the upper end of which is externally threaded to screw into hub B3 of spider B2, whereby the two end members are drawn together so as to secure the cylinder A between them.

Rings a a of packing material, interposed between the ends of cylinderA and top B and bottom C respectively, assist in making the joint tight when the ends are thus drawn together. A lid B shown as hinged to flange b, serves to cover the top of the cup.

Projecting downwardly7 from bottom member C is a boss C2 directly beneath hollow ost C', and of a somewhat larger bore. This )oss is internally threaded to en age with the upper threaded end of a pluggl), the lower end vof which is also threaded as a means of securing it upon the part to be lubricated. In this plug is located a glass tube d which serves as a sight feed for the cup. Secured between the upper end of plug D and the end of the bore in boss C2 is the valve-seat plug D the chamfered flange d2 of which assists in forminga tight joint when plug D is screwed into place. The lower end of valve-seat plug D has av de ending stem d formed with an annular hea which is designed to enter the upper end of the sight feed tube d, the valve port or passage passing axially through the plug D and its stem.

The feed-valve c3 which is designed to r'egister with this valve-seat lies, together with its valve-stem C, within the hollow post C.

Such valve-stem preferably consists of two arts c c2 which are made longitudinally adjustable relatively-to each other by having zthe end of one (as shown the lower) member internally screw-threaded, and the contiguous end of the other externally screw-threaded, to engage therewith. A helical spring c7 encircling such valve-stem and lying between the under-surface of head b2 of hub B3 and a Washer c5 secured near the lower end of the stem normally tends to hold the valve c3 upon its valve-seat. A ring c of packing material secured between such Washer c5 and a guide flange c4 prevents oil from passing into the u per portion of the hollow post C. A small c amber e is formed in the lower portion of post C between this llange c4 and valve-seat plug D from which the oil is admitted to the' bearing upon valve c3 being raised from such seat. The manner in which the oil is admitted to this'chamber will appear later.

The upper end portion 08 of member c2 of the valve-stem projects through the head b2 of hub B3, the o ening therein and such endportion being s aped to prevent any rotation of member c2, but to ermit its free vertical movement. Just bellow such end portion, member c2 is reduced in diameter, so

that upon being raised until this reduced portion c9 is positioned in the head of hub B3 rotation is possible. lt will thus be seen that the opening in the head liz provides in eiiect a stationary or xed guide for the upper member of the valve-stem, whereby said member is held against rotation -in one longitudinal position of the stem but is freely rotatable in another position of the latter. A cam-lever C5 pivoted upon the projecting end of member c2 serves to thus position such member and when raised to rotate it as desired.

The helical spring c7 is so attached at its upper and lower ends as to prevent any turning of lower valve-stein member c when the upper member is rotated as -inst described. The effect oi such rotation, therefore, is to lengthen or shorten the valve-stein C as a whole or in other words, to raise valve c3 dii'- ferent distances from its valve-seat, and so vary the rate at which oil is fed from the cup. The earn-lever C5, as is evident, is adapted in coperation with spring c7 to hold the valvestem and valve in three different positions. When such cam-lever is horizontally disosed, as shown in the drawing, the stem is owered sufficiently to allow such spring to retain the valve upon its seat. When turned to its vertical position, it raises the valvestem as has just been explained so as to permit the rotation of' the upper valve-stem member within the lower, and the consequent lengthening or shortening of such valve-stem. VVhi e, when turned into a horizontal position oppositd to that shown in the drawing, the valve is raised from its seat an amount depending upon such adjustment of the valve-stem length.

Adjacent to boss C2 on bottom member C is a supplemental boss C3. This boss is provided with a recessed bore c11 which communicates directly with the body of the cup by an opening e3 and by means of a port e with the chamber in the lower end orp hollow post C formed between guide-flange c4 and valveseat plug D. A plug F having an axial bore j, formed at its upper end with a valve-seat, is adapted to connect an outside supply-pipe F with suclrboss C3. The opening c3 lies directly above bore f, and a twofaced valve e2 secured to the lower end of a valve-stem E is adapted, upon such valvestem being raised or lowered, to close opening e3 or boref as the case may be. Valve-stem E is adapted to be thus raised and lowered by being threaded near its upper end to engage a nut C4 projecting laterally from post C. To facilitate the turning of the valve-stem to raise or lower it, its upper end is shaped to receive a key E', as shown. As shown in the drawing, the valve e2 is positioned to shut oil? communication with the body of the cup, and to o en communication with the outside supp y. From Whichever source the oil is drawn, upon being admitted te the bore c of boss C it passes through port c to chamber c in hollow post C, and l'rom there, as has already been explained, is lied to the bearing at a rate depending upon the adjustment of valve c3.

Having thus described the several parts entering into my improved oil-cup, the in anner of its operation and use is easily shown. The oil, admitted to chamber c in hollow post C 'from either the cup-body or outside supply, according to the. position oi' valve o, is thence led to the part to be lubricated through the bore in valve-seat D and sight feed d. The rate oll feed is regulated by lengthening or shortening valve-stein C" by raising cam-lever C5 to a vertical position and rotating it in the proper manner. To shut oil' the feed altogether, such ruin-lever is laid over on its side in the posit ion shown in the drawing', the position opposite thereto being occupied when the leed open.

YWith a cup of this improved construction, it is possible to feed to a bearing dillerent kinds of oil at diilerent times witlunit chang'- ing the contents of the cup. Or again the outside supply-pipe may be connected to a gravity or other system and the contents ol" the cup be used only in case oi emergency.

Moreover, positive and easy regulation ofthe amount of oil fed to the bearing' is secured by means of' the special forni of feed-valve and valve-stein shown.

Having thus described my invention in d etail, that which I particularly point out and distinctly claim is:

1. In an oilcup, the combination with a chamber having a port communicating with the part to be lubricated and a second port communicating with the cup-body and with an outside supply, of a valve adapted to close said second port to either such cup body or such outside supply.

2. In an oil-cup, a chamber having two ports, one being a feed port and the other an inlet port communicating with the body of the cup and with an outside supply, a valve controlling such feed port, and another valve adapted to closesuchinlet port to either such cup body or such outside supply.

3. In an oil cup, the combination of a valve-seat; a hollow post, a valve-stein within said hollow post; a valve borne bysaid stem and adapted to contact with said valveseat and to control the admission of oil to the part to be lubricated, said valve-stein. forining a chamber in the lower end ol said pest, such chamber having a port communicating with the cup-body and. with an outside supply, and a valve adapted to close said port to either such cup-body or such outside supply.

4. In an oil-cup, feed-regulating means comprising a` longitudinally movable valvestem and a valve borne thereby, said valvestem being com osed of two members having screw-threa ed engagement with each other, one of said members being held against rotation at all times, and the other being thus held in one longitudinal position of said stem but being rotatable in another position of the latter.,

5. In an oil-cup, feed-regulating means comprising a valve; a valve-stem composed of two members, one provided with a female screw and the other with a male screw engaging therewith; means adapted to longitudinally position said valve-stem, one of said valve-stem members being rotatable relative to the other in one position of said Valve-stem, and being held against such rotation in another position thereof; and means retaining the other of said members against rotation.

6. In an oil-cup, feed-regulating means comprising a longitudinally movable valvestem composed of two members, one provided with a female screw and the other with a male screw engaging therewith; a valve borne by said Valve-stem; a spring tending to hold said valve against its seat, said s rin being connected with the cup and wit the lower of said valve-stem members so as to hold the latter against rotation; and means engaging with the other of said members and adapted to hold the same against rotation in one longitudinal position of the stem and to permit such rotation in another position of the latter.

7. In an oil-cup, feed-regulating means comprising a longitudinally movable valvestem composed of two members, one provided with a female screw and the other with a male screw engaging therewith; a valve borne by said valve-stem; a spring tending to hold said valve against its seat, said s ring being connected with the cup and wit the lower of said valve-stem members so as to hold the latter against rotation; a fixed guide on said cup for the other of said members, different portions of said member being respectively rotatably and non-rotatably engaged by said guide; and means adapted to longitudinally position said valve-stem to 1lffect such various engagements of said mem- Signed by me this 28th day of June 1905.

WILLIAM L. MGRRIS. Attested by:

JNO. F. OBERLIN, G. W. SAYWELL. 

